Test Ends in Tame Draw

Brian Thomas
Media manager

DAY O5 FIRST SESSION
SRI LANAKA GRAB ONLY THE NIGHT WATCHMAN.

India came out on day five knowing very well, that a slip between the cup and the lip, Will be dooms day, in saving the first test from their perspective. Gautham Gambir, batting on 74 and night watchman Amit Misra prodding on 12, with India still trailing by 144 runs and 8 wickets in hand was the story as to how this test Match would go. The overnight batsman both Gambir and Misra, got pass the first hour un blemished. Misra was let off by Dilshan at first slip off the bowling of Welegedera with India’s score on 196. Dilshan made amends in no time when he ultimately got the man he dropped, holding onto a blinder at short leg, when Misra’s leg glance was snatched up with India total on 206.

Gautham Gambir, settled in un perturbed by the wiles of Muttia Muralitharan , who Seem to have lost his killer instinct. Gautham Gambir reached his 7th Test hundred, with ease and looks good to bat on till close of play. Tendulkhar is batting on 22, he executed 2 cover drives off Murali. Signs are that the little master is set for a match saving Innings for India. The only bowler to impress for the visitors was Angelo Mathew’s, while the rest bowling looked very predictable. India took lunch on 256 for 3 wickets still trailing by 66 runs.

DAY 05 SECOND SESSION THE SLEEPY PRESS BOX

The post lunch session was a dull day to we cricket scribes to say the least. The only success Sri Lanka had was when Gautham Gambir lost his patience when batting on 114, with India on 275, thus giving the Sri Lankans a glimmer of hope of winning her first ever test in India. The left hander lost concentration, came down the track with the intention of going over the top to a Rangana Herath delivery. He only succeeded in walking back to the pavilion rather dejected that the ball stayed in the air for a long time for Dhammika Prasad to catch the high ball at mid on. India got ahead of Sri Lanka’s lead of 334 by 7 runs to be safe on 341 for 4 wickets at tea with Tendulkhar on 55 and VVS Laxman on 28. Tendulkhar reached his 57th test 50.Jimmy Amaranath during the tea break made mention that the pitch was good enough for stroke making for another 3 days. I just got chatting, to Sri Lanka’s former captain Anura Tennekoon during the lunch break and his views were note worthy. He stated that the a test wicket should have something for the bowlers on day 4,or else test cricket on pitches like this would end in a drab draw, which Obviously will draw crowds away from the longer version of the game. 3RD AND FINAL SESSION BOTH TEAMS GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS WITH SATCHIN SCORING HIS 43RD TON.

Yes as predicted the first test at Ahmedabad ends in a draw, with the batsman enjoying, their time out in the middle, while the bowlers ended up being the whipping boys. My question is, will pitches like what we’ve seen at the sadhar Patel Stadium do any good to test cricket ? Just imagine we had 1 double centurion, 2 getting past 150 runs with one being unbeaten on 154 and mind you another 3 centurions. It’s been a leather hunt for for both teams. Look at the big scores executed by the batsman and ask your selves if the pitch played fair by the bowler’s

Mahela Jayawardena 275

Rahul Dravid 177

Prasanna Jayawardena 154 not out

Gautham Gambir 114

MS Dhoni 112

TM Dilshan 110

Satchin Tendulkhar 100 not out

India ended the final session of play on the 5th and final day on 412 for 4 wickets ,when both captains agreed to call the match off. Tendulkhar unbeaten on 100 VVS Laxman unbeaten on 51.Total amount of runs scored during this test is 1607 runs in three innings. Total number of wickets captured over the last 5 days is a appalling 21. Do join us for the 2nd test scheduled at Kanpur on Tuesday the 22nd, and for a preview of our 2nd venue this Monday.